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Letters Param, No. 77,849, dated 'May 12,1868.

IMPRQVBMENT 1N.' srnmessnr ron sA'DDLLs.

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TO ALL W HOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. STEELE, Jr., of Rockingham, in the countyof Richmond, and State of North Carolina, have invented a ne'wandimproved Spring-Seat for Saddles; and Ido. hereby declare that thefollowing is, a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whichwillenable others skilled in the. artto make and use the 1 same,reference'being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part'of 'thisspecification.

Figurel is a topview of the skeleton of a saddle'illustrating myinvention. Figure 2 is a detail sectionaly view of lthe same, takenthrough the linex iig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding4 parts. vMyinvention has for its object torfurnish an improved spring-seat forsaddles, which shall be so constructed and arranged as to be easy andcomfortable to the rider, however rough may be the horses gait,rendering horseback-riding more pleasant, in` every respect, than buggyor .sulky-riding; and it Vconsists in the combination of the springs`and seat-with the frame or tree of the saddle, the whole beingconstructed and arranged as herinaftermore fully described.

l A are the'wooden side parts of the lsaddle-tree orhframe; which restuponrthe hor'ses back, and which should be padded and covered in theusual manner. The side parts/A are connected at their forward and rear`ends by curved bars B, :having` ahorizontal bar, 0, formed upon orattached to the upper or middle partv oi'` saidV curved bars. 'D aresprings, the rear ends of which are rivetedor otherwise securelyattached to the i rear horizontal bar C. 4The springs D are-curved intothegeneral form shownin `iig. 2, and their forward ends are riveted orotherwise securely attached toJ the frontV horizontal-bar C. E is theseat, which is riveted or otherwise securelyattach'ed to the middleordownwardly-curved part of the springs D, as shown in iig. 2. F are theloops or staples, to which the stirrup-'straps are attached, and whichare formed uponor attached to the seatE. The seat E may bemade of woodor metal, should be padded, and covered with leather or cloth in theusual manner, the saddle-skirts being attached to and depending fromsaid covering. v The springs should 'be covered with cloth or leather,entirely concealing'them'from view.

I claim as new, anddesire to secure by `Letters Patent- 1, The bentsprings D, forming the support for the 'curved seat E, each spring beingsecured at its ends to the horizontal cross-bars C C, at the front andrear end-of the frame A, as herein described for the purpose specified.

2. Forming the support for the curved seat E of single springs,v whosefront and rear curved ends are securedA to horizontal cro'ssbars at theVfront and rear of theframe A`a.s herein described for the purpose ispecified.

'The above specification of my invention signed yby me, this 15th day ofJanuary, 1868.

l ROBERT J'. STEELE, JR.

Witnesses:

W. W. Y'. FowLKEs, FRANK SANDronD.

